Five questions with Matthew Nicholson

Published 5:17 am, Monday, December 15, 2014

Local actor Matthew Nicholson can currently be seen as The Old Man or the father in Midland Community Theatre’s “A Christmas Story: The Musical” running through Dec. 21. He will play Schroeder in Permian Playhouse’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in February. The native Midlander was a Pickwick Player in the mid-1990s and then went on to work in the Professional Theatre in Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Mercury Theatre and Gallery 37 Center for the Arts. He then quit theater and worked as a personal training manager for Equinox Fitness Clubs and currently as an adult probation officer. When not on stage, he enjoys time with family and friends and traveling.

MRT: What’s your proudest achievement as an actor?

Nicholson: When I moved back in 2008, I learned that MCT was to open its 2009 season with “Les Misérables.” I hadn’t set foot on stage in more than 14 years, but I had such a love for that show, I had to audition. I never imagined I’d land my bucket-list role of Marius, but that gave me a huge boost of confidence that has brought me back to Permian Basin stages again and again.

I could find something in every show I’ve performed in to reflect upon, but one role I’m most proud of was when I portrayed Jesus in the MCT/Midland College collaboration of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” To play such a significant figure was an honor, but came with intense pressure and self-doubt but I found an inner strength and peace that carried me through every performance, and despite being physically and emotionally drained each night, I was overflowing spiritually.

MRT: What is your best quality?

Nicholson: I’d say adaptability is my best quality. I love this quote by Bruce Lee: “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water, my friend.” It is so important to remember that we can accomplish so much if we work ourselves into our surroundings, rather than trying to force everything and everyone around to change in order to accommodate us. I fully believe that this ability to embrace change and learn to adjust my way of thinking and behaving has been the catalyst that has opened many doors, and allowed me to travel down many exciting roads.

MRT: Describe an ideal holiday meal.

Nicholson: Holiday meals are all about the desserts. It really is the time of the year when everybody just lets go and splurges. Why not have your choice of seven different kinds of pie? Or a cake or two? Perhaps cookies or homemade candies? Around the holidays, the sweets are the star of my meal!

MRT: Your not-so-secret indulgence.

Nicholson: Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a horror movie junkie. I literally go on Netflix benders! It doesn’t matter how cheesy, vile, gory — if it’s horror, I’m watching it, even if I’ve seen it before. When I was a kid, I was terrified of everything, and at some point I guess I just got to the point where I figured the best way to overcome my fear was through immersion therapy. Now it’s almost a quest to find movies that can actually make me jump.

MRT: What’s in your car/home music player right now?

Nicholson: I am constantly changing my music around, from the radio, to CDs, to my iPod, and my tastes are pretty eclectic. Lately, I’ve been listening to Verenice Buerling’s album “Perfectly Imperfect” on pretty heavy rotation.